Floating marker for fishing nets and the like



Jan. 30, 1951 G. E. CRIM El AL 2,539,403

FLOATING MARKER FOR FISHING NETS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 7, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 1. 43 3 34 38 43 :3 4 25 anf rfwy 32, I 59 /9 g 3 605 28/ BA'TTE'RY FIG. 5.

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JWUM'VIM GEORGE E. C/P/M, G THO/m4 K COLL/N,

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Jan. 30, 1951 G E cR M r AL 2,539,403

FLOATING MARKER FOR FISHING NETS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 7, 1947 r 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

GEORGE E. CAP/M, .THOMAS v. COLL/N65,

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=r es-a depen loop or eye 16" Patented Jan. 30, 1951 1 FLOATING MARKERFOR FISHING NETS THE LIKE George Grim and Thomas Victor .Collings,

Miami, Fla.

Application Qctober 7, 1947?, Serial No. 778,386.

.2 ClaimS- This invention relates to floating markers, and

more particularly to floating markers for fishing nets.

' It is an object of the invention to provide, a

,floating marker or buoy for fishing nets, such marker includingilluminating means.

A further object is to provide a floating marker which will normalyremain upright in the water, ;'and having a switch actuated by themotion of the water to cause a light to blink. A still further object ofthe invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned class whichis simplified in constructiom-reliable and efilcient in operation, andinexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description. In, the accompanying drawings,forming a, part of the application, and in which -like numerals "areemployed to designate like. parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the floating markerembodying the invention,

:ing the, electric circuit involvedin the device.

In the drawings, wher for the purpose of illustration, is shown apreferred example of the invention, the numeral I designates a lowercasing. section or shell preferably formed of a .suitable opaqueplastics material.

The casing section III is circular in transverse cross section,

and is open at its top, adjacent-Tito its top an- .nular end .I I.

The casing section It includes a depending portion I2 of reduceddiameter, and a bottom end I3, integral therewith. Rigidly secured tothe bottom end I3, by means of a stud I 4, or the like, is a conicalsinker or weight I5, formed of lead, or the like. The weight I5 cariorsecuring the he not shown.

marker to a fishing net, or the Mounted upon the end II orlthe lowercasing.

section is a top casing section or shell I1, which is preferablyspherically curved, and formed of opaque plastics material. H itincludes a bottom annular-radially projecting Thistop casing sectionflange I8, rigidly mounted upon the end I I, by means of screws I9, orthe like. The casing section I! also includes .a flat top or end 20,having a central circular opening 2i, provided with an annular shoulderor seat 22. A water-tight gasket 23 is provided between the flange I8and end II. The external surface of the top casing section I! may becoated with a luminous material to facilitate seeing the marker atnight. Reflecting buttons or discs 24 may be mounted upon the casingsection II for reflecting light at night, to iurtherfacilitate seeingthe marker. A manual switch 25 is mounted upon the top casing sectionI1, and the terminals 26 of this switch extend into the top casingsection for connection in an electric circuit.

Seated upon the shoulder 22 are short lateral extensions or tabs 21,formed upon the tops of three upstanding frame members or legs 28. Thetwo opposite legs 28, in Figure 1, have .a bottom strip 29., integraltherewith, and forming a U- shaped support. The other leg 28, showndotted in Figure 1, has a bottom right ang e strip or extension .30connectedto the strip 29, as at 3!.

The legs 28 and bottom strips 29 and 30 constitute a cage for suitablebatteries 32, supported therein. A circular plate 33 isv disposed withinthe opening 2|, and is suitabl rigidl connected to the tabs 21.

Rigldly connected to the plate 33, by means of screws. 34, and disposedat the center of the plate and depending therefrom is a gravity operatedswitch housing or support 35, formed of eectrical insulating material orplastics. The housing has a top annular flange 36 to receive the screws34., and is provided with a main recess 31, spherically curved at. its.bottom, and having a bottom central small spherically curved recess 38.The housing is supported by the plate 33, and is disposed centrallywithin the le s 28 of the battery cage. The lower end of the housing 35is disposed above. the top battery 32, as shown.

The lower end of the housing 35 carries transversely disposed terminalscrews 39, beneath the heads of which are clamped terminal lugs 40 and4| of wires 42 and 43., respectively. A steel ball 44 is freely disposedwithin the recess 37 and .adapted to project. sli htly into the recess'38 to socket 45 including terminals. and 41, and re-,

batteries 32.

disposed between the batteries 32, and also secured to the arms 28. Eachinsulating spacer has mounted upon its bottom surface a conducting strip52 and a conducting button or disc 53, insulated from the strip 52. Eachspacer is square with its corners removed, as shown. 11

The strip 52 is disposed near one side of the spacer, and the disc 53 isnear its center. strip 52 and disc 53 are recessed into the bottom ofthe spacer 5i, and are flush with such bottom. Horizontal passages 54and 55 are provided in one of the corners of each spacer 5i, and thesepassages lead to the disc 53 and strips 52, respectively, Figure 4. Eachbattery 32 has a positive terminal 55 and. a negative terminal 5?, asshown. The spacers 5i are so disposed, that each positive batteryterminal makes electrical contact against the disc 53 of the adjacentspacer. Each negative terminal 5'! makes electrical contact with thestrip 52 of the adjacent spacer 5!. The wire 42 extends into the passage54 of the top spacer 5!, is electrically connected to the disc 53thereof. A wire 58 is connected with the strip 52 of the top spacer 5i,and through the passage 55 thereof, and is connected to the disc 53 ofthe lower spacer 55. A wire 59 is connected to the strip 52 of thebottom spacer 5! and leads to the other terminal 26 of the manual switch25.

A spherically curved translucent dome 55 is mounted upon the flat top 2!of the upper casing section l1, and is secured in place by means ofscrews M, or the like. A water-tight gasket 52 is arranged between theflange 63 of the dome and the plate 33. The dome 62 has a thickened topportion 64 which is a magnifier, and makes the light from the bulb 48appear magnified.

In use, one or more of the floating markers are secured to a fishermansnet, or the like, and allowed to float in the water. The markers Willtend to stay upright, due to the weight [5. The manual switch is closed.Current will flow from the batteries 32, which are connected in series,through the wire 42, terminal screws 29 and ball 45, Wire 43, bulbterminals 4-3 and 41, wire 49, terminals 25 of manual switch 25, wire59, strip 52 of lower spacer 5|, negative terminal 5'! of lower battery32, positive terminal 56 of such battery, disc 53 of lower spacer 5!,wire 58, strip 52 of upper spacer 52, negative terminal 51 of upperbattery 32,positive terminal 56 of such battery, and through the disc 53of the upper spacer 5!. The light bulb 43 will continue to glow untilthe motion of the water unseats the contact ball 44. When thisoccursythe ball 44 'disengages the terminal screws 29, thus momentarilyopening the circuit. The light bulb 48 will blink off and on as thisactionoccurs repeatedly. .The arrangement of the contact ball 44 withinthe recess 31 is such, that a relatively slight'rocking will unseat theball and cause the light to blink. This blinking-rather than acontinuous glowing of the bulb 48, prolongs the life of the The (ill

Number It is to be understood that the form of our invention, herewithshown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same,and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention, orthe scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A floating marker for fishing nets and the like, comprising adownwardly tapered lower casing section, a weight arranged beneath andsecured to the lower end of the lower casing section, an upwardlytapering upper casing section having its lower large end removablymounted upon the upper large end of the lower casing section, asupporting frame disposed within the upper casing section and having itsupper end mounted upon the upper end of the uppe casing section, theframe having its lower end terminating near the upper end of the lowercasin section, a plurality of batteries mounted within the frame, aninsulating receptacle mounted within the frame above the batteries,contacts mounted within the lower portion of the insulating receptacleand projecting into the same, a rolling contact within the receptacle, atransparent dome mounted upon the top of the upper casing section andcovering the frame, an electric bulb mounted upon the upper casingsection and disposed within the dome, and an electric circuit connectingthe batteries, contacts and bulb.

2. A floating marker for fishing nets and the like, comprising adownwardly tapered lower casing section having an upper large end, aweight arranged beneath and secured to the lower end of the lower casingsection, an upwardly tapering upper casing section having a lower largeend removably mounted upon said upper large end, a supporting framemounted within the upper casing section and having one side open, saidsupporting frame having its upper end mounted upon. the upper end of theupper casing section, the frame having its lower end terminating nearthe lower end of the upper casing section, a plurality of batteriesdisposed in superposed relation within the supporting frame and movablethrough the open side of the supporting frame, said batteries havingterminals, insulating plates disposed adjacent to the upper ends of thebatteries within the frame and having contact elements to engage withthe terminals of the batteries, the plates being movable through theopen side of the frame, a gravity operated switch device arranged withinthe upper end of the frame and mounted upon the upper casing section andincluding contacts and a rolling contact member, an electric bulbmounted upon the upper casing section above and adjacent to the gravityoperated switch device, a transparent dome mounted upon the upper casingsection and enclosing the bulb, and a circuit connected with the contactelements, contacts,

and abulb.

GEORGE E. CRIM. THOMAS VICTOR COLLINGS.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Name 2,151,938 Ramsey et al Mar. 28, 1939Baack July 23, 1946

